The number of U.S. applications for unemployment benefits rose last week, according to the Associated Press, but layoffs remain in a historically healthy range.
The Labor Department reported Thursday that jobless benefits applications for the week ending Aug. 16 climbed by 11,000 to 235,000 — slightly more than the 229,000 forecast by economists.
The four-week average of claims, which accounts for some week-to-week volatility, rose by 4,500 to 226,500.
The total number of Americans collecting unemployment benefits for the previous week of Aug. 9 jumped by 30,000 to 1.97 million — the most since Nov. 6, 2021.
While layoffs remain low by historical comparisons, the labor market has seen noticeable deterioration this year, and there is mounting evidence that people are experiencing difficulty finding jobs.
